Summary: Businesses must adhere to these regulations
Many more businesses set to open their doors on Monday as the country starts its first workday undee level 4 lockdown.
Labour and Employment Minister Thulas Nxesi on Sunday set out the regulations businessowners need to follow to protect the health and safety of everyone in the workplace.
Nxesi briefed the media on the back-to-work readiness on Sunday ahead of the return of over one million employees to work.
The national lockdown has been eased into level 4 but government has emphasized that it won’t be business as usual.
"In returning to work it cannot be business as usual," said Nxesi.
"Businesses that are reopening must put these measures in place before restarting the work."
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Africa's most industrialised nation was already teetering with low growth and high debts when the lockdown kicked in on March 27. On Wednesday S&P downgraded the country's credit rating further to junk.
Nxesi added that the measures set out by the department are only basic measures.
“Employers are able to go beyond that".
These are the steps employers must take to protect workers and customers:
- Workspace must be well-ventilated and sanitised frequently.
- The employer must provide workers with personal protective equipment, including two face masks and sanitisers.
- They must take measures to minimise contact between the workers and between the workers and the public to prevent the transmission.
- They must inform employees that if they have Covid-19 symptoms, they must not be at work and grant paid sick leave or apply for Covid-19 Ters benefits.
- They must support any contact tracing measures initiated by the Department of Health.
- The employer must appoint a manager from within the existing structure to address the concerns of the employees and workplace representatives.
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According to Agri SA's Omri van Zyl, level 5 lockdown restrictions affected agriculture significantly with, for example, the restaurant and tourism industry effectively shut down completely. "At least we can keep on producing and exporting our produce - citrus is coming into season and that is a big crop for South African exports," says Van Zyl.
Nxesi added that the workers would also have to play their part.
“We are talking about responsibility and obligations of both sides, the employer and the employee.”
- Workers should immediately inform employers if they experience any symptoms at work. Not doing so is a contravention of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
- Workers must wear masks at work. Employers must also require members of the public entering a workplace to wear masks.
- All businesses that permit public access must screen all persons entering the workplace for symptoms.
- Workers with symptoms must be placed in isolation and arrangements made for their safe transport for a medical examination or for self-isolation.
Inspectors will be deployed across the country to monitor businesses response to the department’s regulations.
Nxesi warned: “Any employer who does not comply with the direction may be ordered to close business.”